The Portland Timbers are back on the right kind of streak, thanks in no small part to Sebastian Blanco.
The Argentine did the heavy lifting on both goals Saturday night in the Timbers' 2-0 home victory against the Colorado Rapids, helping Portland to a three-match unbeaten run. In the process, he proved himself worthy of Alcatel MLS Player of the Week honors, as voted on by the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) for Week 28.
Moments before halftime, Blanco took the ball off defender Edgar Castillo's feet before playing an inch-perfect cross to set up Jeremy Ebobisse's opener.
Then after the break, he got behind the Colorado defense down the left before driving a cross onto the head of Diego Valeri, who directed it in from close range.
Blanco now has six goals and eight assists in 25 appearances, coming close to surpassing his totals of eight and eight from his debut MLS campaign last year.
He and fifth-place Portland head to the Houston Dynamo (8:30 pm ET | TV & streaming info) on Saturday night in search of their fourth away win of the season.
The Alcatel MLS Player of the Week is chosen each week of the regular season by members of the North American Soccer Reporters. The organization includes print, television, radio and online journalists who cover domestic men's soccer in the United States and Canada.
